NYC Population Complete Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Estimates for July 1, 2015 Introduction The U.S. Census Bureau prepares estimates of total population for all counties in the United States on an annual basis, using a demographic procedure known as the “administrative records method” (described below). This method assumes that post-census population change can be closely approximated with vital statistics data on births and deaths, along with other administrative and survey data that provide a picture of migration patterns. Total Population According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, New York City’s population increased from 8,175,1331 in April of 2010 to 8,550,405 in July of 2015. This is an increase of 375,300 residents or about 4.6 percent over the 2010 mark.

Among the boroughs, Brooklyn saw the largest change in population in this 63-month period, growing by 5.3 percent or 132,000 persons, followed by the Bronx (5.1 percent or 70,300 persons), Queens (4.9 percent or 108,400 persons), and Manhattan (3.7 percent or 58,600 persons). The lowest growth occurred in Staten Island (1.2 percent or 5,800 persons). New York City’s population increase since April of 2010 represented 89.8 percent of the total increase in New York State, which raised the city’s share of the State’s population, from 42.2 percent to 43.2 percent. Components of Population Change Demographers divide population change into components. Natural increase represents the difference between births and deaths. Net migration represents the balance between persons entering and leaving an area. Together, these components describe how populations change over time. The U.S. Census Bureau constructs population estimates for all counties in the United States by separately estimating the components of change. Births and deaths are compiled using data from the national vital statistics system.

Net migration is calculated by estimating the rate of net migration for persons coming in from and leaving for other counties in the 50 states (net domestic migration) and the balance of people who immigrate from and emigrate to other nations and Puerto Rico (net international migration). The net domestic migration rate is derived using income tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service and Medicare enrollment data from the Social Security Administration (see methods discussion below). It is important to keep in mind that New York City has a very dynamic population, with several hundred thousand people coming and going each year. This “churn” has long characterized the City, and represents a fluidity that is difficult to characterize using the net migration measures presented herein. This dynamism is a testament to the City being a magnet for those seeking opportunities, then moving on, only to be replaced by the next set of individuals aspiring for a better life. This very vibrant picture is what makes New York City’s population extraordinary and different from most other places in the nation and, perhaps, the world. The most recent estimates from the U.S.

Census Bureau indicate the following for the 2010-2015 period: a) Positive natural increase – the surplus of births over deaths added 341,300 persons to New York City’s population between April of 2010 and July of 2015. b) Net migration was positive for the city overall, with a net migration gain of 49,600 persons for the period. While small by the standards of the City’s overall population, the picture of positive net migration represents a reversal of longstanding pattern of population losses through migration. The recent gain through migration was the result of a net inflow of 452,500 persons through international migration, which offset a net domestic migration loss of 402,900 persons. For the first time in over a half-century, migration fueled population growth. c) Every borough, except Staten Island, displayed positive net migration between April 2010 and July of 2015. New Patterns of Recent Growth: 2014-2015 vs.

2010-2014 The robust pace of growth in the post-2010 period has not been seen since the 1920s. However, the most recent 2014-2015 estimates point to a relatively lower growth rate as compared to 2010-2014. The increase over the past year, 2014-2015 was 55,200 or 0.6 percent, compared to 75,300 or about 0.9 percent annual average growth for the 2010-2014 period. In the 2014-2015 period, Brooklyn experienced net outflows, a reversal of the pattern in prior years. Growth in Brooklyn was at the City average (0.6 percent) in the past year, while the Bronx (0.9 percent) and Queens (0.7 percent) had higher than average growth. Indeed, the Bronx had the highest growth of any county in New York State, while Queens added the most people in numerical terms. U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Methodology Each year, the U.S.

Census Bureau produces estimates of the population for states, counties, cities and other places, as well as for the nation as a whole. They utilize data from a number of sources to estimate the change in the population for each year since the most recent decennial census. These population estimates use the 2010 Census counts as a base. The U.S. Census Bureau subtracts the number of resident deaths from the number of resident births annually for each county in the U.S., to derive growth due to natural increase. Births are tabulated by residence of the mother, regardless of where the birth occurred. Similarly, deaths are tabulated by the most recent residence of the decedent, not where the death occurred. Birth and death certificates from the National Center for Health Statistics are used as the data source. The data on births and deaths are generally considered to be the most reliable part of the components of change analysis. Net domestic migration represents the net exchange between a county and other counties in the 50 states. This component is estimated for three age groups (0-17, 18-64 and 65 years and older). For ages 0 to 64, the U.S.

Census Bureau uses data on filers and dependents from federal income tax returns supplied by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In-migrants and out-migrants between counties as well as non-movers are identified by comparing the addresses of income tax filers from year-to-year to determine residence at two points in time. For example, to produce the July 1, 2015 estimates, the addresses of tax filers in 2013 and 2014 are compared. In-migrants to a county were defined as those with an address in the county in 2014, but outside the county in 2013; out-migrants are those with an address in the county in 2013, but outside the county in 2014; and individuals who filed tax returns at the same address at both points in time are non-migrants. Since every U.S. resident may not file or be claimed as an exemption on a tax return, these data cannot be used to directly estimate the number of county-to- county migrants.

Instead a net domestic migration rate needs to be calculated by taking the difference between the numbers of in- and out-migrants (net-migrants) and dividing it by the sum of the non-movers and out-migrants.2 Because many retired persons do not file tax returns, the U.S. Census Bureau uses addresses from Medicare enrollment data in much the same way as they use IRS data to determine domestic migration for the population 65 years and over. Net International Migration is the result of net flows to and from foreign countries and Puerto Rico and is estimated in the following parts: immigration of the foreign-born, emigration of the foreign- as well as native-born, and net migration between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Immigration of the foreign-born is estimated using the ACS question on residence in the prior year. Foreign-born persons who indicated that they lived abroad in the prior year are considered immigrants. Emigration of the foreign-born is estimated using the residual method. For example, the foreign-born population is aged forward to obtain the expected population in the year 2015. The expected population is then compared to the population estimated in the 2015 ACS.

Subtracting the estimated from the expected populations provides the residual, which then serves as the basis of emigration rates for the foreign-born. Emigration rates of the native-born are based on research by Schachter (2008) using data from over 80 countries.3This work compares estimates of U.S. citizens living overseas measured for two consecutive time periods and uses the difference to develop estimates of net native migration. 1While there is little doubt that New York City has experienced a substantial population increase post-2010, it is probably overstated. Brooklyn and Queens likely experienced an undercount in the 2010 Census, the result of misclassifying housing units as vacant. A conservative estimate is that this problem understated the population of the two boroughs by 65,000 persons. This means that the population of the city in 2010 was easily in excess of 8,240,000 – and not the 8,175,100 base from the 2010 enumeration that is used in the calculations of change. See Salvo, J.J. and A.P. Lobo (2013).

“Misclassifying New York’s Hidden Units as Vacant in 2010: Lessons Gleaned for the 2020 Census.” Population Research and Policy Review, 32(5), 729-751. 2 One reason why small changes in estimates need to be interpreted with caution relates to the effects that tumultuous events can have on the administrative data used to create population estimates. Such is the case with super storm Sandy and its impact on the utility of tax return data to estimate migration levels for the boroughs. 3 Schachter, Jason. 2008. “Estimating Native emigration from the United States,” Memorandum dated December 24, delivered to the US. Census Bureau. This work compares estimates of U.S. citizens living overseas measured for two consecutive time periods and uses the difference to develop estimates of net native migration.

View Original PlaNYC Projections, 2000-2030 New York City Population Projections by Age/Sex and Borough, 2000-2030 Full Report (680 k) – A detailed analysis of the total population projected to 2030, as well as the projected school-age and elderly populations. Includes an in-depth description of the projection methodology. Briefing Booklet (720 k) – an illustrated guide to the projection methodology and to the major findings. Related Links: Visit PLANYC 2030 - Learn about the challenges New York City will face over the next 25 years -- and how you can help solve them. Mayor Bloomberg's Sustainability Address - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg cited DCP's population projections in his December 12, 2006 address regarding planning for a sustainable future. City Planning Press Release: City Planning Demographers Paint Picture of City's Future Population At 9.1 Million, Detailing How City Will Grow By 2030.

Queens: New York’s biggest borough comes into its own - Lonely Planet Queens: New York’s biggest borough comes into its own Tips & articles Lonely Planet Writer Long overshadowed by its smaller, but better known sibling to the west, Queens is finally emerging from the shadows of Manhattan to take its place as one of New York's most fascinating boroughs. In recent years, Queens has seen the rise of microbreweries, boutique hotels, a reinvented seaside and a burgeoning art scene – all of which has given a big boost to local pride. The biggest borough by size, Queens is home to over two million people, which would make it the fourth largest city in America if it were uncoupled from greater New York . More impressive than its population, however, is the borough's unrivaled ethnic diversity, with residents from every corner of the globe. If 'all the world's a stage', head to Queens for front-row seats. Or check out our video on Uncovering Queens , and all it has to offer to travellers. Manhattan view from Long Island City. Image courtesy of the Queens Tourism Council. Taste makers In the last few years Queens has seen an explosion of craft brewers and beer pubs.

Brewmasters, with ambitions both large and small, have shaken up New York's biggest borough, and if you're after what's new and cutting-edge in the brewing scene, Queens is the place to be. Tucked away in a once-industrial area near the Pulaski Bridge, Transmitter Brewing ( transmitterbrewing.com ) is one of a new breed of small-batch breweries (so-called 'nanobreweries') creating innovative (but highly drinkable) quaffs. Shortly after opening its doors in 2014, it garnered wide praise for its complex Belgian-style farmhouse ales. The better known SingleCut Beersmiths ( singlecutbeer.com ) quickly became the epicenter of Astoria's beer scene after its opening two years before. On weekends, the tap room is abuzz with locals sampling unusual brews like the Kim, a tart lager infused with hibiscus. Ever pushing the envelope, Finback Brewery ( finbackbrewery.com ) creates wildly imaginative but beautifully executed brews like the Coasted Toconut, a milk stout with a hint of toasted coconut.

Long Island City has even more brewers, including Big Alice Brewing ( bigalicebrewing.com ) with a small but impressive output, and Rockaway Brewing Company ( rockawaybrewco.com ), which began inside a beachside bungalow before moving to Long Island City. The sea Speaking of beaches, Rockaway has become NYC's favorite seaside destination of the summer. Locals looking for sand and sun but without the Hamptons' fuss (the prices, the traffic, the 'tude), have begun flocking to this beach in outer Queens. Wait, Queens has a beach? Indeed, and you can reach these Atlantic-kissed sands on the subway. Aside from wave frolicking, surfing (as immortalized by the Ramones) and people watching, the chief draw is the burgeoning eating and drinking scene that has sprouted near the boardwalk. Tender fish tacos from Rockaway Taco ( rockawaytaco.com ) and piping hot pizza from Brooklyn's much loved Roberta's ( robertaspizza.com ) was just the beginning.

More recently Rockaway has seen the opening of wine bars (the Rock serves up tapas, craft brews and wine on tap; therocknyc.com ), foodie joints (Uma's, the place for Central Asian cooking with a side of rock n' roll; umasrestaurant.tumblr.com ), a mini flea market and bohemian nightspots – like Playland : equal parts art gallery, beach bar and wildly decorated motel. Queens' popular Rockaway Beach. Image courtesy of the Queens Tourism Council. The art scene Although few visitors realize it, Queens has a world-class art scene. And it has only gotten bigger and better in recent years. Massive makeovers to iconic institutions like the Queens Museum and the Museum of the Moving Image – both fresh from $65-million-plus renovations – have married state-of-the-art galleries with high design, while greatly expanding their collections. Meanwhile, shows like PS1's famed "Warm Up" summer series continue to put the art in party, with ambitious installations and DJ sessions in the courtyard.

The art scene is ever growing, with new events (the first annual Emerging Artists Festival kicked off in Long Island City this year; conceptionevents.com ), a surging gallery scene (Ridgewood has seen a massive influx of artists and gallerists) and waterfront parks that showcase sculpture, outdoor cinema and avant-garde theater throughout the warmer months. In 2014 New York even christened a 24-block-radius section of Astoria a new arts district (one of only three such designations in the city). Crowds gather for PS1's annual Warm Up music series. Image courtesy of the Queens Tourism Council. Sleep the sleep of Queens Long gone are the days when checking into a NYC hotel meant (invariably) bunking in a small, pricey room in Manhattan. The accommodation scene has spread across the East River, with a new crop of boutique hotels and upmarket hostels springing up in Queens (and Brooklyn). Rooftop bars, creative American on-site restaurants and magnificent Manhattan views – not to mention cheaper rates – are a few features luring visitors across the river.

New openings this year include the Paper Factory ( thepaperfactoryhotel.com ), a whimsical design set in a former industrial building with an aesthetic of reclaimed lumber, polished concrete, vintage maps and artfully displayed machine parts (no prizes for guessing what was once made here). Another Long Island City addition is The Local NYC ( thelocalny.com ), which offers stylish quarters and common areas, plus a bar that serves up live music and Queens microbrews on tap. For better or worse, more Queens hotels are on the way, with nearly two dozen new projects in the works at last count. New York’s meltiest melting pot One of the best features of Queens is the astonishing diversity found in its patchwork quilt of neighborhoods. In fact if your idea of New York is the global melting pot, then Queens is the obvious place to look. Quite simply Queens is one of the most ethnically diverse places on earth, home to over 100 nationalities speaking some 160 different languages, with nearly half of its residents foreign born. Queens - Queens is the largest borough of New York Flights from other cities Queens Queens is the largest and fastest developing borough of The City.

The economy of Queens is based on art, tourism ( JFK and LaGuardia airports are both in Queens) and cinema, an industry that, although was disappearing in New York, is coming back to the city. Location of Queens in New York Since the temporary installation of the MoMA during its renovation between 2002 and 2004 and the inauguration of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, the area has become more touristy, especially for art lovers. In addition, Queens is host to the U.S. Open Tennis Championship and has hosted two World Fairs, the most recent in 1964. In terms of music, Queens is the cradle of Jazz (Louis Armstrong lived in the area mid-twentieth century) and is also one of the main reference points for rap and hip hop along with the Bronx . Top attractions in Queens As well as the Contemporary Art Center P.S.1 museum (also called the MoMA PS1), you can visit the American Museum of the Moving Image (dedicated to cinema and television, it holds over 125,000 items) and the Bowne House (the oldest house in Queens, built by John Bowne in 1661).

Other boroughs of New York City Five Boroughs : Long Island Exchange Used Cars Five Boroughs Located just west of Long Island is a city with 5 boroughs, 59 community districts and hundreds of neighborhoods . The Five Boroughs of New York: New York City is one of the biggest cities in the world, perhaps, because it is actually made up of five smaller sections called boroughs. At one time, each borough had a completely separate government because it was considered a municipal corporation. A municipal is a local governing body with its own set of governing officials. In 1898, the separate governments were united as one. The five boroughs kept their separate identities but became a part of New York City. The five boroughs are Manhattan , Brooklyn , Queens , The Bronx and Staten Island . Each borough has a borough president, and the borough government operates out of a borough hall like a city hall that most people associate with city officials. Manhattan is the only exception; the officials function out of the Manhattan Municipal Building. As of 1990, the borough president has very little power. At one time, each president had a voice in budget decisions within the city of New York . It was argued in the U.S.

Supreme Court that the practice was unconstitutional since each borough president got one vote. The most densely populated boroughs got the same vote as the borough with the least amount of people. It violated the 14th amendment. The mayor of New York City makes all budget decisions for all the boroughs. Manhattan: When people think New York, they often think of Manhattan . The island of Manhattan is the smallest of the five boroughs but has more people than the largest borough of New York. Manhattan is 23 square miles. That is not much space for the 1.6 million people who live there and does not take into account tourists or those that work in Manhattan but choose to live in one of the outer boroughs. Manhattan is known for many landmarks like the Empire State Building and Central Park. The neighborhoods are varied. From Harlem with its boutiques and jazz clubs, Lower Manhattan’s cultural cuisine to the Upper East Side’s museums and Midtown’s Times Square, there is a cultural, culinary and visual experience for every visitor. The Bronx: The Bronx is the second smallest of the New York boroughs at 42 square miles but has less people than Manhattan does.

The 2010 census reported over 1.3 million people in The Bronx. The Bronx has more open spaces than Manhattan and could account for the amount of people. There are many tree-lined streets and local parks for families that settle in this area. The South Bronx is where Yankee stadium can be found. The Bronx also boasts the Bronx Zoo with many outdoor cafes and exhibits. It is where visitors and neighbors can enjoy the New York Botanical Gardens as well. Brooklyn: Brooklyn is the most inhabited of the five boroughs with over 2.5 million people in 71 square miles. The many ethnic groups in Brooklyn can be found in concentrated sections around the borough. There is a large African American community in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area , Russians in the Brighton Beach area and a sizable Hispanic population in Bushwick . There is a large concentration of various other ethnic populations like the Irish, Arab Americans, Greek, Orthodox Jews and West Indians just to name a few. The Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Brooklyn Academy of Music are examples of the musical traditions Brooklyn is famous for having within its borough. Another example of culture is the Brooklyn Museum which houses the second largest collection of art in the U. S.

Queens: If Queens were a city independent of New York, it would be considered the fourth most thickly-settled city in the U. S. behind cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. Queens has a population of over 2.2 million people in 109 square miles. While it may be thought that Brooklyn is the most culturally-diverse, it is actually Queens where its residents speak over 138 languages. The area of Queens includes the major airports within its borders. Queens has outdoor amusements in Corona , an outdoor beer garden in Astoria and fine dining with great views in Long Island City . It has a welcoming family community in many of the areas of Queens. The borough also has many cultural attractions for the visitor that wants to explore or the full-time resident who wants to fully experience their borough. Staten Island: Staten Island is the least inhabited and populated of the boroughs with just over 470,000 residents. The island is 58 square miles and is separated from the other boroughs by New York Bay. The residents of Staten Island often refer to themselves as “The Forgotten Borough” since they feel ignored in favor of the other boroughs by the government of New York.

Staten Island is accessed from New Jersey by three separate bridges , and from Brooklyn by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge . Most tourists want to visit Staten Island using the free Staten Island Ferry which takes the visitor on a scenic view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island . Staten Island is becoming a haven for artists and musicians who want to be close to Manhattan but have access to affordable housing. Manhattan is less than a half an hour from Staten Island by ferry. LOCAL ADVERTISING Social Icon How Queens Became New York City's Largest Borough - Curbed NY How Queens Became New York City's Largest Borough Rec Some neighborhood names appear to be jokes . Some have stuck around for centuries , despite changing connotations. Some shift with the winds of gentrification. Welcome to Blurred Lines, in which writer Keith Williams studies New York City's changing neighborhood boundaries. From an 1891 map. Notice how few roads have been built in Queens compared with Manhattan and Brooklyn. ( NYPL ) Last year, we brought you a post on the evolution of Kings County's municipalities from 1664, when the English took over for the Dutch, through its annexation by New York City as the Borough of Brooklyn in 1898.

During that same span, its neighbor to the north and east, Queens County, also underwent a number of changes—including the loss of nearly three-quarters of its area. With a land area of 109 square miles , Queens is by far the largest of the five boroughs. (Its population of 2.3 million is second to Brooklyn by 300,000.) Had Queens County maintained its original size, however, it would be almost four times bigger; what is now known as Nassau County broke away in 1899, making the County of Queens coterminous with the one-year-old Borough of Queens. Before we begin, a bit of background is needed. First: just as with Brooklyn and Manhattan, there's been a lot of land-filling over the years, so the geographic extremities of these maps won't be true to what they were in the 19th century (hello, airports!). For practical purposes, changing water boundaries have been left out. And second: a few borders were based on now-covered creeks and now-obliterated roads. As such, a few of the boundaries on these maps (particularly the ones covering the entire county) are rough approximations.

Like Kings, Queens County was established in 1683 as one of the original 12 counties of the Colony of New York. It was named for Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese queen consort of England's King Charles II. At the outset, it consisted of five towns: Hempstead (established by the English in 1644): named either for the Dutch town Heemstede, near Haarlem and Amsterdam, or for the English town Hemel Hempstead, home of one of the co-founders. Flushing (Dutch, 1645): originally Vlishing, from Vlissingen, a Dutch town on the North Sea. In 1657, 30 Vlishing residents sent an appeal to Director-General Peter Stuyvesant urging him to lift a ban on Quakers. Many view this document, known as the Flushing Remonstrance , as the birth of religious freedom in the New World. Jamaica (Dutch, 1656): originally Rustdorp ("rest town"), later renamed after Yameco, "beaver" in the Lenape language.

It has a distinct derivation from the Caribbean nation: that comes from the Arawak word Xaymaca ("land of wood and water"). Newtown (Dutch, 1652): originally Middenburgh; populated by settlers from nearby Maspat (today's Maspeth). Changed to Hastings in 1663 upon the English takeover, then New Towne in 1665. Oyster Bay (English, 1667): after nearly thirty years of boundary disputes between English and Dutch settlers in the area between Hempstead and today's Suffolk County, the English government of New York incorporated the township. Before the British took control of the greater region in 1664, Oyster Bay (the waterway, that is) marked the dividing line between western Long Island (part of New Amsterdam) and eastern Long Island (part of Connecticut). That line more or less divides Nassau and Suffolk Counties today, but when Dutch power had begun to slip, there was some confusion over whether the towns in the future Queens County would be part of New York or Connecticut.

(All of Long Island was turned over to New York in December 1664.) In 1784, the northern part of Hempstead broke away , giving itself the inventive name of North Hempstead. This stemmed from a Loyalist-Patriot divide in the Revolutionary War; the northern half declared "independence" in 1775, as Hempstead wished to remain part of the British Empire. The county seat was originally in Jamaica; after the British burned the courthouse in the Revolution, the seat moved to the village of Mineola, in North Hempstead, close to the geographic center of the county. (For context, Mineola is about 10 miles due east of today's Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and 16 miles due east of today's Long Island City waterfront—as the crow flies. Imagine making that journey on horseback—or foot—over winding, muddy paths.) But as ferry service became more reliable in the early 19th century with the introduction of the steam engine, western Queens became more popular.

Much of that growth came at a place called Hunter's Point, which developer (and president of Union College) Eliphalet Nott divided into lots starting in the 1830s . Ferry service came in 1858 , allowing travelers for the first time a two-seat trip from Manhattan (by ferry) to Flushing (by train); by 1869, Hunter's Point had developed a gravity of its own. Residents clamored for incorporation as a village so that they could oversee their own development, rather than listen to the bigwigs of Newtown. Due to opposition by manufacturers, who feared increased taxes, this push was defeated by the state Legislature . Undeterred, Hunter's Point formed an alliance with neighboring villages, particularly Astoria, and the next year succeeded in forming a new entity: Long Island City. The county seat moved to there in 1874, much to the chagrin of the residents of rural eastern Queens County. The boundary between Long Island City and Newtown was an old path called the Bowery Bay Road , which ran from the now-destroyed Penny Bridge over Newtown Creek to Bowery Bay in Long Island Sound.

While most of the winding route was obliterated by the grid that eventually came into place, a few vestiges remain, among them Celtic Avenue in Woodside, the hypotenuse of John Downing Park in Woodside, Hobart Street in Long Island City, and 19th Road in East Elmhurst. (Fun fact: "Bowery" comes from the Dutch word bouwerij, "farm.") "City" was a bit of a misnomer for the area. Unlike the City of Brooklyn, which was rapidly approaching a population of one million, Long Island City had just 17,000 residents by 1880. It was really just a confederation of villages with plenty of empty space between them. From an 1891 map. Notice how few roads have been built in Queens compared with Manhattan and Brooklyn. ( NYPL ) The city's government was basically neutered, as there was a very low cap on how much money it could raise. Rather than use normal budgetary means, officials could create commissions to address the growing area's numerous problems, such as lack of fresh water and the flattening of hilly terrain. This provided plenty of opportunities for graft.

A few parcels of land were wrested away from Queens County in the 1880s: New York County (Manhattan) took North Brother Island (1881) and Rikers Island (1884), while in 1885, Lloyd Neck joined Suffolk County. South Brother Island would be transferred to the Bronx in 1964. In 1896, consolidation was looming. Newtown changed its name to Elmhurst in order to distance itself from the wasteland known as Newtown Creek, which had been an industrial dumping ground since the Civil War. Among the first polluters had been Peter Cooper, who was ordered to move his glue factories there from Manhattan in the 1850s. The vote to create a consolidated City of New York had taken place two years prior, in 1894. Overall, 62 percent of voters in the future borough of Queens were in favor of the consolidation plan, but the outcomes varied widely among the various jurisdictions. Long Island City, population 35,000, voted overwhelmingly for consolidation, with 82 percent in favor.

The Democratic machine had been incredibly corrupt, serving bloated contracts to contributors and doing a terrible job improving infrastructure. The water supply was so poorly managed that fire insurance was much higher than in other municipalities along the East River. Of note in this part of history was three-time mayor Patrick "Battle-Axe" "Paddy" Gleason, who formed a private water company in an attempt to gouge his own citizens, among many other exploits. Flushing, on the other hand, had 55 percent of voters against the proposal. Residents feared an incursion from Tammany Hall ; the town had also built an advanced infrastructure, including a steady water supply and systems for sewage and gas. Unfortunately for them, the referendum was simply advisory. On January 1, 1898, the western part of Queens County—Long Island City, Newtown, Flushing, Jamaica, and the Rockaways portion of Hempstead—became the Borough of Queens. This created a strange situation for the remaining parts: they were technically still part of Queens County, but the bulk of the county was now controlled by New York City.

On April 28, 1898, the state Legislature approved the creation of a new county, which some in the eastern half of the former Queens County had wanted for nearly 60 years . It was called Nassau, taking the original name for Long Island, which honored William III of the House of Orange-Nassau. It became the 61st county in New York State, and the first created in 45 years; only Bronx County, which broke away from New York County in 1914, is younger.* Many in Queens did not like the new partition, as county officials wanted to sell off land in Nassau to pay off debts incurred before the split. In fact, in October 1898, the county clerk refused to grant certificates to the nominees for elected offices in Nassau County. In doing so, he cited his belief that the legislation creating the new county was unconstitutional. He was promptly overruled in court , and there is no evidence that he pursued the matter any further (or subsequently went to jail for contempt). Rawson-33rd Street on the IRT Flushing Line, 1917.

( NYC Transit Forums ) The opening of the Queensboro Bridge (1909) and the completion of a railway tunnel under the East River (1910) spurred development even further. Compared with today, politicians were incredibly forward-thinking when it came to transit: the IRT Flushing Line (today's 7 train) was built through open fields in anticipation of future development – the best way to get land on the cheap. There were a few changes to both counties in the early 20th century. In 1917, Glen Cove, on Long Island Sound, broke away from Oyster Bay and became an independent city. Hempstead lost Long Beach in 1922 . And in 1925, Brooklyn and Queens redefined their border to align with the street grid. Even today, there are reminders of the original boundaries of Queens. ZIP codes are mostly aligned with those borders: what was once Long Island City is 111xx, Newtown and Flushing share 113xx, Jamaica is 114xx, and Far Rockaway (what used to be part of Hempstead) is 116xx.

Fun fact along those lines: Ridgewood and Glendale used to share ZIP code 11227 with Bushwick, Brooklyn. But after the riots in the wake of the blackout of 1977, residents found their insurance rates rising, and they successfully petitioned Representative Geraldine Ferraro to grant them a 113xx ZIP code. *Correction: this post originally said Bronx County was separated from Westchester County in 1914. What is now Bronx County was originally part of Westchester County, but the land was annexed by New York County (now coterminous with the Borough of Manhattan) in 1874 and 1895. Borough Trends & Insights | NYCEDC Borough Trends & Insights Exploring New York City Borough Economies The Bronx Two decades of growth has made the Bronx a shining example of inclusive innovation and economic growth in action, topping charts in borough-to-borough pair-ups. Between 2004 and 2014, private sector jobs in the Bronx grew 20%, second only to Brooklyn in terms of borough-wide job growth.

Meanwhile, the borough has seen the City’s sharpest decline in the unemployment rate, at -1.9% during that period. July 2016 Bronx Borough Update Brooklyn Home to nearly 2.6 million residents, Brooklyn is the most populous borough in New York City. Particularly over the last decade, the borough has become host to a thriving cultural scene and growing innovation economy. As this Brooklyn Borough Report shows, private sector jobs grew 29.3%, a city record, unemployment is down to 6.1% after a recession high of 9.9%, and the number of residents with a Bachelor’s Degree is up 77% since 2004. July 2016 Brooklyn Borough Update Manhattan The Manhattan Borough Report demonstrates how the City’s historic birthplace is known throughout the globe as the economic and financial capital of the world - and for good reason. Not only is it home to iconic destinations like the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the New York Stock Exchange, it’s also home to more than 2 million private sector jobs - the highest share of all five boroughs - as well as the lowest unemployment rate in the city.

May 2016 Manhattan Borough Update Queens Queens covers 35% of New York City’s total area, making it the largest of the five boroughs and the second most populous county in New York State. With one of the most ethnically diverse urban populations in the world, Queens is an increasingly popular place to live, do business, and visit. May 2016 Queens Borough Update Staten Island Staten Island is the City’s getaway island, a borough filled with historic architecture, stunning views, gardens and many family-friendly attractions. NYC Population Population Facts Here are some interesting facts about the New York City population: With a July 2015 population of 8,550,405, New York is the most populous city in the United States, more than twice the size of the second largest city, Los Angeles. About 1 in every 38 people living in the United States resides in New York City. New York has the highest population density of any major city in the United States, with over 27,000 people per square mile. Over 3 million of New York City’s residents are foreign-born; over one-quarter arrived in 2000 or later.

Nearly 2 million New Yorkers are under the age of 18. New York City has more people than 40 of the 50 U.S. states. New York City comprises over two-fifths of New York State’s entire population. New York City has grown by over 1 million people since 1990. The 2014 median age in New York City was 35.8 years, almost two years lower than the national median of 37.7 years. Over one-third of the population 25 and over in New York City has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 30 percent nationally. There are nearly 400,000 more women than men in New York. There is a birth in New York City every 4.4 minutes. There is a death in New York City every 9.1 minutes. The borough of Brooklyn on its own would be the 4th largest city in the United States; Queens would also rank 4th nationally. Approximately two-thirds of dwelling units in New York are renter-occupied, over twice the national average.

The average commute for New Yorkers is just over 40 minutes, about 14 minutes longer than the national average. New York City has the largest Chinese population of any city outside of Asia. More persons of West Indian ancestry live in New York City than any city outside of the West Indies. New York has the largest Puerto Rican population of any city in the world. More Dominicans live in New York than any other city in the world, barring Santo Domingo. Over 2.4 million Hispanics reside in New York City, more than any other city in the United States. The Black nonhispanic population of New York City numbered 1.89 million in 2014, more than double the count in any other U.S. city. Half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home. Over 200 languages are spoken in New York City. Queens | The State of New York Key Aspects WYSIWYG Main Industries: Queens has the second-largest and most diversified economy of all the five boroughs of New York City, with evenly spread jobs across the health care, retail trade, manufacturing, construction, transportation, and film and television production sectors.

Small businesses act as an important part of the borough's economic vitality with two thirds of all business employing between one to four people. Queens is home to two of the three major NYC area airports, JFK International LaGuardia. Attractions include Flushing Meadows Park—home to the New York Mets baseball team and the US Open tennis tournament—Kaufman Astoria Studios, Silvercup Studios, and Aqueduct Racetrack. Land: Queens is on the far west section of geographic Long Island and includes a few smaller islands, most of which are in Jamaica Bay. The Rockaway Peninsula, the most southernly part of all of Long Island, sits between Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, featuring the most prominent public beaches in Queens. Education: Queens has a variety of higher educational insitutions such as, St. John's University, Queens College in the CUNY system, LaGuardia Community College in the CUNY system, and the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, among others. Next Section New York | Boroughs of New York City | Sights and Cultural Attractions New York New York is the biggest city in the United States with a population of over 8 million .

It lies along the Hudson River in the southeast corner of the state that has the same name. New York is always alive – a “city that never sleeps”. Boroughs New York is made up of five districts, called boroughs. Manhattan is the central part of New York. It is the smallest district with an area of only 60 square kilometres. All of the city’s major banks and the stock exchanges can be found here. It is the seat of the city’s government and the home of cultural institutions. Brooklyn is a major seaport and the centre of industry. It has the most residents of all boroughs and is known as the district of churches and homes. Queens is the largest of New York’s boroughs. It consists of rows of single-family houses and is often referred to as the city’s biggest suburb. Whites, Hispanics and Blacks live together in Queens. The Bronx , a residential district with many apartment buildings, is the only borough situated on the mainland. For many years Staten Island could only be reached by ferry. Today, the borough is connected with Brooklyn through the Verrazano – Narrows Bridge. The opening of this bridge in 1964 led many New Yorkers to move to Staten Island.

Population New York is a melting pot of different nationalities with people who have their origins all over the world. Hispanics, African Americans and people of European origin make up most of the city’s population. Ellis Island, not far from the Statue of Liberty , was once the main entry point for the millions of immigrants who have come to America in the past two centuries. The first immigrants came from England, Germany and Scandinavia at the beginning of the 19th century. Between 1880 and 1930 Eastern Europeans, Italians and the Irish came to America. After World War II Asians, Cubans and Hispanics came to New York in large numbers. The city also has the largest Jewish community in the world. Sights For over a hundred years the Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of the United States. It stands on Liberty Island and was a gift that France gave to the USA in 1886 as a symbol of friendship between the two countries . With its pedestal made of concrete the statue has a height of 93 metres. It represents a woman looking out over the harbour. On her head is a crown and in her hand a torch.

Although tourists can go up to the observation deck in the crown, the torch itself is closed to all visitors. Times Square, where 42 nd Street and Broadway meet, is often called Crossroads of the World. Millions of people see it on television every New Year’s Eve. It got its name because the New York Times building was originally located there. Today it is home to theatres and cinemas with many electronic billboards surrounding the square. Times Square - Terabass The Empire State Building is one of the best known buildings in the world. Located in the middle of Manhattan, the steel framed structure has 102 storeys and a height of 381 metres. Built in 1931, it was the first building of such a tremendous height. For over twenty years it was the tallest building in the world and the tallest building of New York until the construction of the World Trade Centre in the 1970s. The building has appeared in famous films like King Kong and Superman. About 2 million tourists visit the Empire State Building every year. Central Park is the largest and most important public park in Manhattan. It extends for about 4km and has an area of 340 hectares.

The park includes lakes, ice rinks, fountains, playgrounds, bicycle paths and other facilities. When it was built in the 1840s the park was far away from the city’s centre. Some of it was farming area another part was swampy, wet land that had to be laid dry. It took 20,000 workers more than 15 years to remove thousands of trees and complete the park. Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1869 and 1883 connects Manhattan with New York’s most populous borough, Brooklyn. The 1.5 km long bridge, which spans the East River, is one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19 th century. Culture New York is often said to be the cultural centre of the United States. Many famous museums are at home in the city. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a huge collection of over 2,000 European and 4,000 American paintings, sculptures and drawings. Other famous museums are the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art. New York City is especially popular among theatre-goers. The greatest theatre district in the world is around Times Square and Broadway.

About 40 theatres offer a wide range of dramas, musicals and comedy shows. Music lovers can attend performances of New York’s Metropolitan Opera or concerts of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra . Metropolitan Opera - Photo: Andreas Praefcke Transportation Like many modern megacities New York also has great traffic problems. Most foreign travellers get to New York through John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the world’s busiest, situated in the south-eastern part of the city. Public transport centres on a subway system which is the largest in the world. It is over 300 km long, has over 400 stations and is used by almost 4 million people every day. Because New York is such a large city many people tend to walk or, when in a hurry, go by one of the thousands of Yellow Cabs that cruise around. History The first Europeans were explorers who were impressed by the area’s natural harbour. In 1609 the English navigator Henry Hudson sailed up the river that is today named after him. In 1626 the Dutch set up a trading post at the southern tip of Manhattan and called it New Amsterdam. In the same year they bought Manhattan from the Indians who lived there.

The British took over the colony in 1664 and named it after the Duke of York. After the American Revolution New York became America’s first capital , but only for a short time. Back then about 33,000 people lived there. In the early part of the 19 th century waves of European immigrants started to come to the city. They usually worked for little money, helped boost the economy and made New York the largest city in the country. The rapid growth of the city also created problems: crime, poverty, overpopulation and pollution. In the 1970s the city went through a big economic crisis. It didn’t have enough money to pay its bills and almost went bankrupt , but recovered again some years later. In recent years the city has become the target of terrorist activities. In 1993 a car bomb exploded in the basement of the World Trade Centre, killing six people. The city’s darkest hour came on September 11 th , 2001 when terrorists hijacked two planes and flew them into the World Trade Centre. Both buildings collapsed— the attack killed almost three thousand people.

In April 2006 developers began constructing a skyscraper called Freedom Tower at the place where the World Trade Centre once stood.

Question: Which is the largest borough of New York?
Answer: Queens